Signaling apparatus for handling coded information



June

SIGNALING APPARATUS FOR HANDLING CODED INFORMATION Filed Feb. 12, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IIIIIIIIIIII FIG. 2

1mm RALPH V. ANDERSON flfim MW 28, 1960 R. v. ANDERSON 2,943,309

SIGNALING APPARATUS FOR HANDLING CODED INFORMATION Filed Feb. 12, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 DOUBLE 2 confra/5m R Rel SW 1- x 1. Rel Sw I' ?5 P I EE R F I G 3 r I 3mm RALPH V. ANDERSON SIGNALING APPARATUS FOR HANDLING CODED INFORMATION Ralph V. Anderson, 2509 32nd St. SE, Washington 20, DC.

Filed Feb. 12, 1954, Ser. No. 410,054

4 Claims. (Cl. 34il324) (Granted under Title 35, US. Code (1952), sec. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

This invention relates to a signaling method and apparatus for handling coded or other intangible information or intelligence in order to exercise a check or control over it. In the preparation of cryptographic aids of the scrambled alphabet type for instance, all predetermined letters, numerals or other symbols, hereinafter called characters, are used to form a section of a cryptograph. While all the characters must be present in each section they are scrambled and their sequence varies with each section in accordance with their varying meanings. If any one character in a particular section is omitted and another character erroneously repeated instead, such a section is defective. Up until the present invention a manual method of control and error elimination has been employed, the controller laboriously checking on a sample list containing all the predetermined characters, the occurrence of each character in the section checked to elicit an omission of one character and the repetition of another character for it.

An object of the present invention is to provide a simple, quick and etficient mechanical system of check or control of coded information or other intangible intelligence by utilizing typographical skill of a typist of conventional training.

Another object is to provide a check of coded information through visual illustration by a device comprising a keyboard similar to that of a typewriter with each key actuating a corresponding signal control light on a control panel board to indicate the occurrence or absence of a character and with each key also actuating a second signal light preferably common to the whole keyboard, to indicate an erroneous duplication of a character in the section of the cryptograph checked.

A further object of this invention is to provide a'single typewriter-like machine for the purposes described, having the necessary operating elements arranged in the manner conventional to a typewriter to perform however nontyping functions specific to the handling of coded information and to the signaling of errors, to enable a typist of average skill and intelligence to operate it efficiently and accurately in the conventional typing manner without additional training.

Another object of the invention is to provide a signaling system for the purposes described comprising a typewriter-like keyboard, in which each key, when depressed is connected through an electrical switch with a separate relay and with a separate signal lamp and in which each key in addition also is connected with a universal switch, two relays and two light signals common to all keys, and a relay selecting mechanism, which upon the completion of the typing of a section selects the separate relays not energized, if any, to signal the omission of a character, and which selects the error relay, if energized, to signal the duplication of a character.

Another object of the invention is to provide a duplication detecting and indicating mechanism for the purposes described comprising electric input actuating means connected to produce a second separate signal upon repetition of the same electric input.

Another object of the invention is'to provide a duplication detecting and indicating mechanism for the purpose described, comprising a plurality of keys, each upon first depression closing an individual circuit to produce an individual signal reserved for and corresponding to the particular key depressed, each key upon first depression simultaneously also energizing a secondary circuit, common to all keys, to produce a second separate signal upon duplication of the depression of the same key.

Other objects of the inventionwill become apparent by reference to the following specification and accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the signaling apparatus of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of a basic example of a circuit of the invention.

- Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a portion of an electric circuit demonstratinga preferred embodiment of the circuitry of the apparatus.

Similar characters of reference .indicate similar or identical elements throughout the specification and drawmgs.

In the drawings: the signal apparatus is represented by a housing 9, preferably of the shape and dimensions of a conventional typewriter and is equipped with a conventional keyboard 12, exhibiting a plurality of key levers, 13, in four rows, and an error signal bar 15, hereinafter called the signal bar, at the bottom of the keyboard and resembling there the conventional space-bar of a typewriter. There also is present a pair of keylevers, one on the left hand side, and one on the right hand side indicated as L Rel and R Rel and hereinafter called release keys. i These occupy the same positions as the shift keys ofa typewriter. All the character key levers, hereinafter will be called keys. The keys depress upon the conventional touch of a touch-typist, so does the signal bar and the release keys.

While any combination of characters may be employed, which is desirable for the particular cryptographic or other system used, be it assumed that the apparatus of the present invention in the embodiment shown, employs twenty-six letters, ten numerals, and one dash, altogether thirty-seven characters, and that they occupy positions corresponding to thoseof the American conventional typewriter keyboard.

The diagrammatic circuitry of Fig. 3, for the purposes of simplicity, demonstrates a detail of electrical connections of only four keys out of the identical connections of tl1 e.thirty-seven keys present, the rest of the circuit, the space bar and the pair of release keys being common to all the thirty-seven keys. Therefore the circuitry hereinafter will be explained with reference to four keys only at random selected as characters A, B, C, D, as repre sentative of the thirty-seven keys present. Each key has assigned to it a corresponding individual switch such as 18, with the associated circuitry described hereinafter. In addition to operating its individual switch each key also operates through mechanical connections a universal switch 26, common to all keys, which closes after the depression of any key 13 On the top of housing 9, in the space occupied in a conventional typewriter by the paper typed on, is a signal panel 10, comprising four rows spaced in parallel and corresponding to the four rows of the key board and exhibiting thirty-seven signal light windows 11, at an angle to horizontal allowing their quick simultaneous observationby the typist. 'The signal light windows correspond :to the characters of the key board and .they are spaced on the signal board in the Same sequence'and ord r a it eik ybear chara ters Th two .keys in the fr'ontrow, that is the second and third from right, .have no junction except to keep ,thelkeybpard familiar to the the typist 'and serve as finger rests. An additional larger error signal window 14 hereinafter called double window in the right front corner of .the signal panel is common to all keys. Each window on the panel houses a signal light bulb, suchas LA, LB, fLC and ,LD and thedouble window'14 has two bulbsLllfor greate conspicuity. The signal light of the double window is actuated by the erroneous .double depression 9f anyone of the-characterl eys. The electrical circuit comprises a relay bank of thirty-seven relays, such as AR, BR, QR andD'R, ,each individually assigned to one of the ,cori esponding-thirty-seven character "keys respectively, a ,relay selecting mechanism of two relays, FL ,Rel and BL, and a current inputZZ and '23. AfbaSiC circuit is demonstrated in "Fig. 2. Three AiC. relays A, *Y and Z of predetermined resistance, such as 850 ohms, are provided with *two sets of switches functioning as breakers 129 and 25 with one universal switch 26 functioning as a circuit maker. ResistanceR'l, such as 1006 ohms, is provided in the circuit to withstand the jfiow of current through it when input'through' 22 and 23 will be applied across it. Theseveralrelays each has contacts, numbered from 11 6 as shown and thus hereinafter for 'thepurposesof clarity the word contacts refers not to the switches 12 6, 125 and -29 but'to-the-contacts '1 to 6 of the various relays only.

The circuit of Fig. 2 is so arranged that the first time the circuitisj closed by switch;26, the Y relay will "be .encrgized-closing its contacts 55 and 6 whichyinturn supply current torelay A. Althoughcurrent,issuppliedto relay LZ through contacts 1 and '2 of relay Y, the operating action-of relay Yissufliciently fasttohreak its contacts 1 and 2, leaving relay Z unaffected.

The A relay armature, when pulled. down, closes con- +tacts 5 and 6, locking'itself. 'Upon-releaseof switch 2 6 V the armature'ofrelay'Y testoresflitself to normal, current is supplied to its contact '5 through theloc'ked ,position of contact 6 of relay -A. 'Contact 4of relay "Y is connected to the relay coil-magnet :supplying potentialgto .this terminal. When-switch 26-is now operated'forjthe :second :time relay Y can not operate "because .the same potential is supplied to both terminals o'f'the magnet ,coil. .Current is thus supplied through contacts 11 .and '2. of relay Y to relay -Z. Relay Z-Will -be,energ'ized and willlock ritself throngh its contacts Sand 6. 'Switch 2 9 will release -A :and switch 25 will release Z. The connection ;-fr or n contact 3 of relay to the juncture of relay IY l terminal and iresistanceR-l prevents-relayYfmmvibrating. Transformer T and signal light {LA are added to contacts 2 and 3 of relay A for visual indication of its condition. Sign al zlightjLA is representative of all thirty-seven signal lights and their connections are shown in greater detail in Fig. 5. Double error signal light shownlas double? 114 connected with resistor R2 to the contacts ,2 ,and, 3

of relay is included 'to .,indicate the condition ioif .the'

relay Z. The Z relay is .eqrnrnon to all ,thirty-seven chare acter'keys. 5

The .univer'sal switch '26 .is common to all thirty-seven keys. he keysyeachhavean anglelever with ,azshort' vertical barearryingthe character buttonand with -an;elon- ,gated horizontal .bar comprising :actual glinkage .with switches 18.to;2.-1. ,All the horizontalzbars are spaced :at the bottom .of ,theihonsing at one level. The universal switch ,26 in Eigs. ,2 =and 13 is indicated :by :dotted lines as leading .to .26. The -,ba r is positioned :horizqntally underneath .theihorizqntalibars of the {character keys and ,at,9.0 .angle toqt hem. ZIIhe depressjion of aicharacterakey, such .as A, foperates ;.zfirsi the e.ri .e p ndi of the thirty-seven characters.

4 switch 18 and immediately thereafter the universal switch '26.

In Fig. 3 the theory of the circuitry shown in Fig. 2 is applied to a preferred embodiment of the apparatus exhibited in Fig. l and shows the complete circuit for four and DR with light signals LA, LB, LC and LD with associatedcircuitry are taking place of the single relay A and light signal LA respectively. The circuitry of the double error signallight L14, .of the right release switch 29, of the left release switch 25, o'f'the universal switch 26, and of the relays Y and Z remain unchanged. Switch 27 is included to be operated by .the errorsignal bar 15. The function of the circuitof Fig. 3 is as follows: The key A on the keyboard, when depressed, closes its corresponding switch'18. 'Immediatelythereafter the universal switch 26 closes and current is supplied to relay Y. The .operation of relay Y through its contact 6 to contact 5 and over switch A energizes relay A, whichlocks itself and primes the circuit to light signal LA. LA will not light however until the transformer T -wil1be energized. The release of key Aopens switches 18 and 26, and relay Y will return to its normal position. lf'howevenby error, key A'is depressed the second time, rclayA through switch 18 supplies current to the terminal magnetcoilY :by means ofY s contacts 4 and 5. The closing pf-switch '26 applies apotential-to relay Z through contacts '1 and "2 of relay Y, relay Z will become energized and locked. V

Byilocking ofrelay Z a' potential is applied through contacts ;2 and 3 tothe double signal light L1 4 and to the rfe'sistor1R2 and L14 *will signal. Twobu'lbs are used to increase the intensity of the double signal light over the character signals.

'Thus'during a normal operating procedure the typist depresses the character keys corresponding to the characters of the coded section to be checked, depresses'the error signal bar 15 to read the results, and ,then depresses the left release "key 25 to 'unlock all character relays for the next operation. If after' depression of one ot the character -keys the double signal'L1'4 flashes, the typist will stop to check that particular character, will release the double signal light by pressing the right re lease key 29, and will then proceed to the next character. 'Upon completion of an erroneous section one character signal will not light showing that it hasibeen omitted, since one other character has jbeen repeated erroneously instead.

Many modifications and variations of *the presentjin vention are possible -in the light of the above'disclo sure. "It is to be understood that "within the scope of 'theappende d claims the invention may be practiced otherwise .saidsignal panel having a plurality of individualysignal means, ,one for each ;said character key, spaeedien said signal panel, error signal means common .toallsaid .character keys, linking means between each :said character key, 'its respective. signal means and said error signal means, connected to put into readiness the .qhamflel" signal upon afirst depression of said character key, link- 'ing means betweedeach said character key said 'error -signal-n1eans connected 'to actuate said error signal :means upon a seconddepression of a said character key, .error signal release -means connected-to erase the error signal :upon 'depressiomcharacter signal means connected with-said :control key to actuate thesaid charactersignals :broughtinto readiness by the first depressions of szrid The relays AR, BR, CR

character keys upon the depression of said control key and means connected to cancel the said readiness of said character signals upon depression of said character release key.

2. A signaling apparatus for handling and checking character sequences as in claim 1 wherein said appa ratus operates on an electric current input, the said keys function :as electric switches, the said signal means are electric light bulbs and the said linking means are an electrical circuit.

3. A signaling apparatus for handling of intelligence in sections defined by a predetermined number of different characters, to exercise an omission and repetition check over each section separately, comprising a touch type keyboard provided with a character key for every said character, with a control key for said repetition check, with a character release key and with an error signal release key, a signal panel positioned for visual observation during typing and provided with a signal light window and light bulb for every said character key and spaced on said signal panel in a sequence and order corresponding to the sequence and order of the corresponding keys on the keyboard and with an error signal light window and error-signal-light-bulb, an electric current input, a plurality of individual character circuitries each corresponding and connected with one said character key and each including a character switch, a character relay connected to said character switch on depression of said character key and a character light bulb primed to produce a corresponding character signal on said panel upon the depression of its character key and actuated upon the subsequent depression of said error signal key, a universal circuitry, including a universal switch, a universal relay connected to said universal switch and energized upon actuation of said universal switch, an error relay, and an error signal bulb common to all character circuitries and connected with them, said error relay connected automatically to close said error signal bulb upon two depressions of a character key, said control key operating a separate control switch connected to close the character circuits when primed by the first depression of a character key to light said character signal bulbs on said panel board, said error signal release key being connected with the circuitry to release upon depression said error signal, said character release key being connected with the circuitry to release upon depression the character relays.

4. A signaling apparatus for handling intelligence in sections defined by a predetermined number of difierent characters to exercise an omission and repetition check over each section separately, comprising in combination: a touch-type keyboard provided with character keys and 6 character switches, one each said character key and cha-r acter switch for every said character and with one universal switch, common to all said character keys, each said character key having means to close upon its depression its respective said character switch and thereafter to close said universal switch; a character switch circuitry, one for each said character, including a character relay and a character signal light; a universal switch circuitry, including a universal relay; an error signal release key with circuitry including an error signal release switch, an error relay and a double error signal light, a character signal bar with circuitry including a control switch and a transformer; and a character release key with circuitry including a character switch; said keys each connected to operate upon its depression its respective switch; an electric input terminal with power means for energizing said circuitries; a signal panel positioned for visual observation during typing and provided with a signal window for every said character signal light and one window for said double error signal light, said windows spaced on said panel in a sequence corresponding to that of said characters on said keyboard; means to connect in sequence upon a first depression of any of said character keys said character switch, said universal switch, said universal relay and said character relay to prime the corresponding said character signal light, means to disconnect said universal relay upon a first release of said character key, means to connect upon a second depression of the same said character key, in sequence, said corresponding character switch, said character relay and said universal relay and thereafter said universal switch with said universal relay to connect said error relay to actuate said double error light; means to connect upon a depression of said error signal release key, in sequence, said error signal release switch and said error signal relay to turn this latter relay inoperative and to cancel said double error signal light; means to connect upon a depression of said character signal bar said control switch and said transformer, to actuate simultaneously every said signal light primed by said first depres sion, means to turn ofi all said actuated signal lights upon a release of said signal bar; and means to connect upon a depression of said character release key said character release switch to make all character relays inoperative.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,013,671 Roe Sept. 10, 1935 2,028,772 Friedman Jan. 28, 1936 2,139,676 Friedman Dec. 13, 1938 2,613,453 Gecsei Oct. 14, 1952 

